Flat card for dispensing keys

ABSTRACT

The invention is a flat card structure having one or more holes through its planar surfaces enabling one or more keys to be bound to the flat card structure using two-part attachment fixtures. The keys on each planar surface are coplanar in a plane parallel to the card&#39;s planar surface. The keys may be rotated so as to be used to open a lock, and then rotated back into stored position wherein no key portion extends beyond the card&#39;s dimensions. The card with keys attached and in stored position can fit in card pockets of wallets and card cases.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention is a system for storing and dispensing one or a multiple of keys oriented in a plane or planes parallel to the plane of a flat card.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Most people have one or more keys for opening a front door, a mailbox, an office door, and the like. Typically holders for keys are ring-type holders wherein the keys lay side-by-side. As a result, the volume taken up by the keys and ring do not store inside a wallet sleeve, or take up an essentially planar orientation in one's pocket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

The invention herein disclosed and claimed is a card that is essentially planar, and whose dimensions are such that it could fit inside a wallet sleeve. The card has one or a plurality of holes through the planar surfaces, positioned such that a key may lay flat on one of the card's surfaces and be attached with a low-profile attaching fixture. One or a plurality of keys may be so attached so that a single card could hold one or more keys oriented so that the planes of the keys are parallel to the plane of the card, and when rotated, the key lies on a surface of the card and does not extend beyond the card's edges. As such, the card and its keys may be conveniently stored in a wallet sleeve or pocket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment wherein the card is essentially the dimensions of a standard-sized credit card and has a plurality of holes through the planar surface.

FIG. 2 illustrates a key attachment fixture comprising two portions that are aligned with the key's hole and a card hole and when pressed together form an attachment that holds the key on the card's surface while allowing the key to be rotated in the plane so as to be inserted into a lock.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side and top view showing how a key is affixed to the card.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary embodiment showing a card with multiple keys attached to its surface.

FIG. 5 shows a typical door key's bow and blade and nominal dimensions.

FIG. 6 shows a standard ID-1 card format with standard dimensions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

The invention herein disclosed and claimed is a planar card structure, whose planar surfaces have one or a plurality of holes so located so as to allow one or a plurality of keys to be affixed to a surface and rotated such that no portion of any key protrudes beyond the edges of that card.

To attach one or more keys to that card one uses a two-part attachment fixture that aligns with the card hole and key hole and when pressed together, or screwed together, provides an attachment and fixed fulcrum around which the key may be rotated in a plane coplanar with that of the card.

The card dimensions and standard key sizes determine how many keys may be accommodated and where the holes may be located.

The card's dimensions and hole locations are not critical to its function and are dependent upon the overall size constraints and number of keys to be accommodated.

As shown in FIG. 1, the card (101) is essentially planar and the holes (102) are made through the planar card surfaces.

As shown in FIG. 2, an attachment fixture comprises two components (201 and 202) such that when combined as shown (203)

As shown in FIG. 3, with the key on ae card surface (side view 301), the attachment fixture of FIG. 2 extends through a card hole and holds a key in place. A top view shows two keys so attached.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment wherein three keys are attached to a card such that each is able to be rotated so as to open a lock, and all three can be rotated so as to have no portions of the keys protrude beyond the card's edges. Although not shown, three other keys could be attached in the same way to the opposite planar surface of the card.

As shown in FIG. 5, a typical door key has a bow (501) and a blade (502). Nominal dimension of the bow is 1 inch and it may be circular, or polygonal wherein its maximum dimension is nominally 1 inch. The blade, which is essentially rectangular, has its longest dimension of nominally 1 inch.

As shown in FIG. 6, most wallets and card cases accommodate a card having ID-1 standard dimensions. The longest edge is 3⅜ inches and shortest edge is 2⅛ inches and the rounded-corner radius is essentially ⅛ inch.

The card may be made of plastic, polymer, metal or essentially any material which provides a rigid surface upon which the keys may be located and affixed. The numbers of holes and card dimensions are not critical to its function. The minimum card dimensions are determined essentially by key lengths and widths such that the longest or widest key would not protrude beyond the edges of the card. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A key dispensing system comprising: a rectangular card having two parallel planar surfaces; at least one hole through both said two parallel planar surfaces; said at least one hole is essentially perpendicular to said two parallel planar surfaces; and at least one attachment fixture comprising two mating portions such that said mating portions extend into said at least one hole and are terminated by capping structures whose diameters are larger than diameter of said at least one hole through both said two parallel planar surface, and which capping structures, after attachment, are located on opposite sides of said two parallel planar surfaces.
 2. A claim as in claim 1 further comprising said rectangular card's longest dimension is limited by a range of 3.0 to 4.0 inches; and said rectangular card's shortest dimension is limited by a range of 2.0 to 2.5 inches. 